Providing high quality cooperative services that positively impact the diverse educational needs of students, staff, and community.
We believe everyone
is valued

can learn and grow

will become successful and independent

What is a BAC?

A Business Advisory Council (BAC) is a locally focused partnership that unites education and business leaders to engage in dialogue, build trust and identify strategies that transform the student learning experience. The Mercer County BAC is coordinated by an established partnership between the Mercer County ESC, the Mercer County Community & Economic Development Office and Wright State's Lake Campus.

All Ohio school districts and Educational Service Centers need to have a Business Advisory Council. And, all BAC's are required to submit a yearly plan outlining strategies and measured outcomes. The ongoing, intentional collaboration can result in a more responsive education system based on regional economic drivers and needs, more relevant learning experiences for students that include work-based learning opportunities, and enduring partnerships between schools and local industries.

We believe:

Mercer County and our surrounding region offers a great place to work, live, and raise a family.
Bridges between business and education are the key to a sustainable future for our community.
Every Mercer County Student will graduate with an informed plan.

Together we are:

Data Driven
Action-Oriented
Co-Designers of Student Success

2023-24 Mercer County ESC BAC Plan (PDF)

In addition to the yearly plan, each business advisory council and its school board shall file a joint statement, not later than the first day of March of each school year, describing how the school district or service center and its business advisory council has fulfilled their responsibilities. (See section 3313.82 of the Revised Code).

2024 Joint Statement (PDF)

The Mercer County ESC BAC is honored to be recognized with a 2024 3-Star Business-Education Leader Award for Excellent Business Advisory Councils. This designation, achieved for 2 consecutive years, showcases the hard work, dedication and efforts our schools and businesses exhibit each year in connecting students to careers in our area.

Bylaws and Member Expectations

The Mercer County ESC BAC operates under established bylaws approved each year at the September meeting. If you would like more information about what our BAC does, please review this document.

2023-24 Mercer County ESC Bylaws

How we all work together!

The Mercer County ESC-BAC is open to all business and education partners willing to join forces in the

on-going development of strategies to support three quality practices:

Develop professional skills for future careers
Build Partnerships
Coordinate Experiences

The Mercer County ESC-BAC will commit to creating a 2023-24 Plan that encompasses these practices through action-oriented strategies:

Student Engagement: Strategies that illustrate local career opportunities and what it takes to prepare for these careers in our region
Business Engagement: Strategies to help design career experiences, such as job shadows, work-based learning and pre-apprenticeships, that are efficient and effective for both the student and the partnering company
Educator Engagement: Strategies that provide educators with tools such as training, industry tours, curriculum resources and connections to local companies, needed to help our students graduate with an informed plan
Parent and Community Engagement: Strategies that empower parents with resources and information to help support their students

Updates

March BAC News

BAC Meeting Agendas & Minutes

Agendas	Minutes
August 3, 2023 Kick-Off	August 3, 2023 Attendee List Table Note Summaries
September 14, 2023	September 14, 2023 Attendee List Minutes Presentation
November 30, 2023	November 30, 2023 Minutes Presentation
April 5, 2024	April 5, 2024 Minutes DEW Presentation SOCHE Presentation
June 2024	June 2024